New and old date cØdes appear

From Edinburgh today comes a somewhat less than inspiring bundle of 'new' items. The coil strips look exciting - strips usually are - but the 2nd Class is M12L MTIL which I featured in a February post. There may be something different that I haven't noticed and the first one did come from a specialist source. It would seem a bit unlikely, though, that it has taken the Philatelic Bureau staff six months longer to realise that this is out there. Then, of course, there's that 2012 date code! What is that about - or has this strip been around for two years and they've just realised?

My guess is that there's something else different. I just don't know what it is yet.  The first class is different, I am pleased to report. It is M13L MTIL which I haven't seen before, despite that being a 2013 code!

There were also five new booklets issued today. They have a new telephone number or something on them but what we're really interested in is the stamps and, yes, there are four that you'll need.

MA14 MFIL

MA14 MFIL

M14L MTIL

M14L MSIL

M14L MTIL

The 1st Class M14L MTIL has been around before but the others are all new.

I have always found it odd that everyone use MA14 or whatever on the Large issues but M14L on the normal sizes. There were some oddities in previous years but generally all the Large ones have an MAØØ type code and others the M1ØL style.

Early year NVI code changes I missed (so you may have too)

With the Philatelic Bureau not treating change of source or year code as a new issue I have just realised that I have missed a whole pile of NVIs with different codes between 2009 and 2011. I get them now on a standing order with B Alan (Mike Holt also offer this service) but I have two whole years to catch up with and there are a lot :(

There are also some variations in the types of slit with, for example, a De La Rue 1st gold MBIL appearing with both type 1 and type 2a slits.

Dealers are also listing many shifts of phosphor and iridescent layers, (almost entirely down to Walsall's booklets!) These are often very pricey but outwith my own sphere of interest so I haven't catalogued them. I have tried to include every other intended change, though. See the NVI page at this link.

The NVI list has now been split in two. The 'less security features' issues prior to 2009 and a couple of later stamps - the 2010 EU and World NVIs - are in what should now be a closed list with the second one covering issues from 2009. 

Now, to try and source those missing items at a reasonable price...

2013 Code issues

That list is definitely required! I very nearly added funds to Messrs Norvic's coffers for the £2 and £1.28 MA13 code stamps which I thought I had missed. I had, in fact, got them but failed to update my catalogue.

Apologies - I must make more effort and do the ruddy thing myself. I just kinda hoped I could copy someone else's!

I still can't figure out whether these came from Tallents House though. I don't think they did but enquiries are in hand and I will update here soon.

What is still confusing me is the MA13 / M13L business. It would seem that all the DLR issues are appearing with the former format which I had thought was sort of not Royal Mail approved and would therefore have to be corrected. Looks like I was wrong there. I clearly need a whole day in the shade with a supply of coffee and a large horizontal, clean, dry and not windy, area to take a good hard look at what I have and where it should or shouldn't go.

New code on 1st red - already!

Norvic Philatelics report that the 1st red in books of 6 is now appearing with a M13L code in place of the M12L code on release. Check your copies and look out for the revised one as this is unlikely to be supplied by the Bureau. You may need to take a magnifying glass to some local retailers!

2010 issues

Here's what you need to know about 2010. This is almost entirely straight from Robin Harris's excellent site which has a mass of additional technical detail and that's where most of the links in this post will take you. I will start my own commentary soon - just a couple more years to go!

Post and Go

You'll be relived to know that on the Post and Go front things were a bit quieter if you are just collecting the Machin types, with a font change introduced in each of the 5 denomination prints in September 2010.

7 Jan 2010

Two Machin panes from Classic Album Covers prestige booklet
20p/54p/62p in one pane
5p/10p/22p in one pane

The 5p and 54p values have new value types (different font):

30 Mar 2010

New values and colours, including two nice additions by way of an airmail strip on the 2005 type Europe and Worldwide rate NVIs which I thought had bitten the dust along with the E stamps:

Security prints with '10' year code
Security print issues (all self-adhesive):


1st gold with 'T' and '10' (Jan 26)
1st gold with 'C' and '10' (Jun 15)
1st gold with 'S' and '10' (Jun 26)
1st gold with 'P' and '10' (May 8)
2nd light blue with 'T' and '10' (Mar 31)
2nd light blue with 'P' and '10' (May 8)
2nd light blue with 'B' and '10' (Mar 5)
2nd light blue with '10' (Mar 10)
1st Large gold with 'F' and '10' (May 8)
2nd Large light blue with 'F' and '10' (May 8)
50p grey with 'P' and '10' (May 8)
1st gold with 'P' and '10' (May 8)
1st gold with 'B' and '10' (Mar 2)
1st gold with '10' (Mar 13)
2nd light blue with 'P' and '10' (May 8)

De La Rue security print coils of 500 and 1000:
1st gold with 'R' and '10' (May 13)
2nd light blue with 'R' and '10' (May 13)




It does now look as though we collectors will be splashing out every year for new year codes on all these issues. I guess, though, that many of us would have bought each new booklet or sheet change example anyway - but there would have been some that we might have hoped wouldn't change for a few years.

April 2010

Horizon Gold labels (illustrated at same scale as other Machins on this page). Robin included these in his round-up and I'm glad he did as I had been thinking that these ought to be included in my collection. They are the ultimate Machin in a way (although I am not so sure that shouldn't be the ultimate gaudy and huge Machin!) and if they do settle down and start being used a lot I will regret not starting.

I am happy to find as many of the different codes as I can from bundles of used items someone somewhere must have at a reasonable price, if not given away, but I would like to have some crisp examples if it's possible to get them at a Post Office. So I shall trot down to Towcester tomorrow and see what they say. I also gather from the little reading I have done so far, and it has been little, thanks to this massive catch-up exercise and the flaming Post and Gos, that there are a host of varieties which will add to the fun too.





Many types exist (different letters [service], language, typeface, perf vs die cut). The Deegam Report 90 notes the following Horizon service codes:

1L 1st letter, recorded signed for
1LG 1st large letter
1PK 1st packet
2L 2nd letter, recorded signed for
2LG 2nd large letter
2PK 2nd packet
 A Airmail
AAX Airsure
BF British Forces Post Office, international parcel
BL British Forces Post Office, letter SP Standard parcel
BLG British Forces Post Office, large letter
BPK British Forces Post Office, packet
FF Free Forces
FP Fully paid
MOR Mail Order Return
PE Global economy
PS Global valueRPR RSF fee paid on a Packetpost ™ return item
SD Special delivery
1st RSF fee paid on an article for the blind
SU Surface mail

6 May 2010

George V and Machin head


Do you consider this a Machin issue? asks Robin Harris. I think I do. Just!

8 May 2010

Souvenir sheet (all lithography by Cartor)

13 May 2010

Machin pane from Britain Alone Covers prestige booklet
5p/10p/60p in one pane

26 Oct 2010

New "Special Delivery" Machins



original prices would have been:
£5.05 (non-denominated) Special Delivery, up to 100g
£5.50 (non-denominated) Special Delivery, up to 500g

As reported first by Ian Billings of Norvic Philatelics.